Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-08

lOI IuG dull1UCs ISh pCISOuS III tsk1l1E
city, even among his acquaintances, hAFe
known of this peculiar trait of charactel
in the Wall street operator and partnel
of Mr.. Gould, and still fewer are aware
that the tranquil looking mansion onthe
banks of the Hudson is veritable arse.
nal within, and holds treasures probably
rsrer and of greater value than sEst to be
found in any private collection Of arms in
this country. 80
a reporter who enjoyed the privilege of
private view Of this collection found it
particularly rich in specimens. Of antique
armor. In the main hall the visitor is
confronted on either side by Silent forms
that recall the collection in the Tower OF
London. Tall knights in full panoply,
surmounted by noddlng plumes, are
ranged in long lines.
THE MAIN COLLECTION.
Four large rooms are devoted to the
main collection, which is g surprising
one both in extent and variety. One
room presents the appearance Of an
arsenal, By the window are two brass
cannon, surrounded by Dragons heads
at the muzzIe. These were taken by q
British war snip from 9 Chinese pirate.
Alongside are two smaller pieces or
ordnance that did service in the German
wars 81 the time of Gustavus
AdOlphus. Ranged along the walls
and in the center of the room are
large cabinets containing q mass Of
weapons sufficient 70 equip full regi-
ment. Guns, smooth anu rltiedi OF every
conceivable pattern, from the beautifully
decorated and inlaid wespon of the MoIE
to the modern repeating rife; Tartar
guns, with eXquisitely wrought silver Or
naments, some with barrels of shining
silver, and others of copper: wonderful
Arab guns With long and deadly looking
barrels, that recall the old Kentucky
rife; blunderbusses and odd looking fire
arms from the East; Dutch, German
Austrian and Russian guns, and q score
or mere of the venerable flint lock mus
kets that were the immediate predeces-
sors of those used in Revolutionary days
There are, toe, arQuebuses and ugly
looking pistols Of Cromwelis time, with
match lock and wheel, looking at which
the observer no longer wonders at the
Injunction Of the stern old Protector to
his soldiers as TO keeping their powder
dry.
In the same room are 3 number Of
swords of rare workmanship and value.
Bright cleaning blades from Toledo, WitR
hits of gold or silver, and scabbards .th&t
show the highest skill OF the metal work
er's art; swords of Damascus steelgWith
delicateIy inlaid and CuriOUsly fefmed
hits; keen curved blades that have doubt
less been worn BY some Chinese prince or
japanese demio; long, dangerous looking
rapiers of Venetian make, that have prob
ably spitted many a victim: the Scottish
ClaymOre, the ieweled sCimitar Of the
raiah, the scarcely less decorated WEAPON
CT the CirCasSian, and the heavy cavalry
swords of the German and AustERii
Cavalryman, The Japanese and Chipese
swords are study in themselVeE Zone
Of the most remarkable pieces iuthe' 60
lection is a pCnderOus tWO-edged sWefd
seven feet long that WAS said to Ssge been.
used in the Spanish inquisition# 1t pre-
sents a remarkable contrast to the light
and elegant court swords worn by Euro
pean officers of high rank, of which there
are @ number in the collection. Near the
latter are the rude native weapons OF the
cannibal tribes of New Caledonia, the
French penal colony circular axes OF
flint with long heavy hsndles, and great
clubs with wicked looking sharp knobs
all over them, and doubtless effective as
missionary peIsuaders."
LETTER FROM GARIBALDI.
"There,' said Mr.. MOrosinl, pointing
to an adjoining nook, "these are thigh
bones of victims that thOseg CRhnibal
fellows saved and polished sfser theyshad
dined of them. And up there, that round
looking sffair ike corn cob is all
covered with human teeth
In Gpl1prh TO0r11 10
sortment of musical and striking
watches, every one of which is
marvel of mechanical skill and in
Of the finest art of which the famous
of India are capable
q huge galley, or gOndOIa, from Calcutta.
1t is of silver throughout, and the exqul5-
tie tracery Of the tlligree work shows that
ts construction must have been the labor
Of almost lifetime.
"That cross of the first consul" aids
Mr.. MorcsinI, sis very rare. Here is
however, that l value still
more highly. 1t is the Colors of the army
Of France mere scrap, you see, and all
5ewed and patched together. Rather
Than surrender these Colors the French |
soldiers tore them into fragments, and |
every man took piece and hid it away
"But l wish you to see, before you
20, what / value most of all" said Mr..
Horosini. He produced a worn and |
aded letter, written on paper manufact- |
Ired in London sld dated in 1853.
"Caro Manu-" read the reporter. |
who is Nsnni, Mr.. Morosini?"
"That is | he used to Call me Nanni. !
It's just like dear Jack you know"
The letter was from Giuseppe Carl !
Daldi, the Italian liberstor, and thanked |
lis compatriot, "Nanni" Morosini, for |
he services he had rendered the writer, |
ind expressed a fear that ne would never !
)e able to repay them as they deserved. !
The letter was written in the csressing |
one familiar in Italian correspondence, |
md showed the warm friendship that ex-
sted between the two.
Gle had the face and the heart of |
ion," said Mr. Morosini, his eyes wet |
md glstenirg as he spoke. ole was
ny dear friend, and loved him"
VT9Enings
How M nm ,oaooIa- naptrao4 ,J;eaocac nv, |